Inej

3 more days, 3 days. She kept on telling herself. It was a beautiful night. The stars shone brightly in the almost cloudless sky. She had loved it the first dozen times. Enjoyed it for the months that followed at sea. But now she just couldn't stand it. After almost one month sailing, she just wanted to be on hard ground. To eat fresh food, except fish. And to meet an old friend.

"He's giving us more trouble, Inej," Rotty cried out from the other end of the boat. "Then strap him down," she shouted back. She was in a foul mood. That slaver they had captured hadn't said a word and given them so much trouble during the last week. Torture didn't work on him and, besides, she didn't want to hurt him too much. For all she knew, he could just be mute, and had been on the wrong ship at the wrong time. She'd bring him back to Ketterdam, and Kaz would find a way to make him talk or to innocent him.

In her deepest self, she knew the slaver was just an excuse to return, but damn did she have enough of the sea. Then she heard the first shot.